A women's radio station was closed in Badakhshan by authorities at the Ministries of Information and Culture and Vice and Virtue, the officials at the radio station confirmed to TOLOnews.
Moezuddin Ahmadi, head of the provincial department of information and culture, said the radio went off the air until further notice due to broadcasting “songs during Ramadan."
The head of the radio station said that they mistakenly broadcasted an Arabic Na’at (religious poetry in praise of the prophet, Muhammad (PBUH).
“Yesterday, our radio was closed by the department of Information and Culture. Our broadcast has been halted and they gave the reason for it as broadcasting music.Our colleague mistakenly broadcast the music in holy Ramadan,” said Najia Sorosh, head of the radio station.
The provincial officials told TOLOnews that they have given many warnings to the radio station before.
"Radio Banwan [Women's Radio] was closed because of broadcasting music, particularly in Ramadan, which is also a violation of publishing policies of the Islamic Emirate. They were informed many times but didn't pay attention, so finally we closed it," said Hekmatullah Mohammadi, head of the provincial department of Information and Culture.
The local journalists in Badakhshan called on the Islamic Emirate to allow the radio station to resume broadcasting.
"Undoubtedly, mistakes happen in the publishing system. It has not been intentional, we call on the government to allow the radio station to resume activities," said Mohib Saeedi, a journalist.
The Sada- Banwan [Women's Voice] radio station started 10 years ago in Faizabad, the capital of Badakhshan.
At least 8 people, the majority of them women, were working at the station.
There are 2 TV channels and 10 radio stations currently active in Badakhshan, according to the Badakhshan Journalists Safety Committee.
Two of the media organizations are being managed by women.
There are 45 women and 73 men working in these private media organizations.
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